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Was the humorous direction always the intention?
I don’t know if you played Saints Row 1 but I think there are elements of the tone in that game and they certainly evolved and progressed in Saints Row 2. It’s interesting. When we’re talking about humour and tone, we had a lot of time consuming conversations about whether or not, for example, if the Ronin gang would have swords on their backs. Would that work in this game? Would people say, how are people walking around in this world with swords on their backs?

When it came out, we saw players didn’t care about little stuff like that. So we thought 'okay, good, let’s not worry about little minutiae in this game, let’s blow everything out'. So I think it’s steady evolution in pushing limits, not only in over-the-top gameplay but also the humour.

They really do seem to be dealing with all the issues I had with 2. Notably, the boring, sprawling city, the frustration at having to do all the levels of an activity for any reward (levelling up? Fuck yes!) and the PC port quality and graphics.

"The main driving force behind that was in Saints Row 1 and Saints Row 2, it was set up that the only way you could get the perks was to complete eight levels of an activity. So basically, it turned into a huge grind. So if you want to sprint forever, you have to go play a certain activity and you had to play a certain amount of that activity to get that reward.

We decided there’s no reason to force the player to play something they don’t like. So the idea was reward the player constantly with respect, which is basically experience. So everything that they’re doing, every piece of gameplay they play, every activity, they can focus solely on the one that they like and play only that and still get the rewards that they want. So they can go to the upgrade store and get anything at any time as long as it’s available. So you’re able to pick and choose the best stuff that suits your playstyle and the best rewards that they want."

Uh oh, that sounds like a terrible idea. So rather than get specific rewards for minigames, you just get given "respect" as a cash and go buy things? So in order to stop grinding, they decided to just reward you for grinding whatever minigame gives you the most respect the fastest, and never give you incentive to try a variety of activities?

That's.... not really what that says at all. It gives you an incentive to keep playing the minigames you enjoy while not having to mess with the ones you don't. If you don't want to try something, that's on you, but the developers are saying you don't have to. Also if you want to grind whatever gives the most respect, you're kind of missing the point, but to each his own.

I think it's a good idea. I could do insurance fraud for hours, and now will have a reason to.

That's what he SAYS it will do, but it won't. Which is why I'm worried: it's bad game design.

EDIT: I should elaborate, I guess.

There's a real danger, given how they're talking about the game, of it devolving into a sandbox. And as much as we like to talk about freedom being great and all that, a pure sandbox is boring as fuck. Once you've done everything once, they just... peter out. They're sustained by a good, solid challenge/reward system, and it was that system that made Saints Row 2 great, not the silliness. It was relatively difficult and tremendously unique challenges, completable in co-op, with (usually) great rewards.

Let me put it this way: minigames rewarding you with money instead of abilities was the big change between San Andreas and GTAIV. Which of those did you prefer? Which sounds like more fun: getting to level 8 in a challenge and learning you can now buy a flamethrower in stores, or getting a thoroughly boring and predictable sum of respect?

Except that we keep playing in the sandbox long after beating it. The SR2 sandbox is totally awesome to play in, and is what has kept interest in the game alive for the group. Hell, many of the people who hang out in chat never even bothered to beat the game at all, and simply play it for the sheer joy of messing around.

I understand that some people need that kind of reward system to sustain interest, but it certainly doesn't hold true for many of us.

Because I walk out of the front door of my crib and something completely crazy happens. Three hours later, gasping for breath from so much laughing, I take a break. I have yet to really get much of anything done, aside from a handful of missions and so on. I have fun with the missions and activities, but the real beauty of SR 2 for me is seeing my actions turn into a tidal wave of chaos that gets completely out of control, in a colorful, over the top and cartoony way that no one else really seems to do.

Yeah, not really having a problem with that - I'll probably do all the mini games anyway since their fun, but some of them are more entertaining than others to repeat. More Ho'ing, less escort.

I''m sure you mistyped and actually meant to say more Escort, less Crowd Control.

No but seriously, being rewarded for doing the stuff you like while not being punished for not doing the stuff you don''t like sounds like a pretty sweet deal to me.

Eh, Crowd Control wasn't my favorite activity, but tossing morons doesn't get old for me. The teleporting paparazzi annoyed me in escort (although doing 2player escort was hilarious, since one person has to drive while the other 'services' the client.)

Kind of proves the point though - people want to play different mini games.

I gained a lot of respect destroying other gang members in long drawn out battles, so as long as we still get respect from murdering rivals, I doubt it will be much of a "grind" even if you don't like doing activities. Shooting people is fun for everyone!

It's like music to my ears hearing about this game. We can expect an official trailer at E3 next week since Volition has confirmed it, and has also been asking fans what they want to see in the trailer.

EDIT:
* Calling in airstrikes is an ability you get early in the game
* Sex Appeal slider
* Release dated November 15, 2011!

I've heard nothing but how god-fucking-awful the PC port is for this game. But for five bux I might be inclined to take it.

It is a terrible port, and if you have access to a 360 then get it for console. But I think the pure awesome of the game itself outweighs the port issues if you have a decent rig and a controller. Plus, it's only $5. The other PA'ers playing now all have similar specs and run it just fine.

Hi idolninja sorry to bother you but could you create a mod on Saints row:The Third suit johnny Posed please I really need it!

I've heard nothing but how god-fucking-awful the PC port is for this game. But for five bux I might be inclined to take it.

It is a terrible port, and if you have access to a 360 then get it for console. But I think the pure awesome of the game itself outweighs the port issues if you have a decent rig and a controller. Plus, it's only $5. The other PA'ers playing now all have similar specs and run it just fine.

Hi idolninja sorry to bother you but could you create a mod on Saints row:The Third suit johnny Posed please I really need it!

seriously? You just joined the forum to ask the guy to make a mod for you? Just seems a little rude tbh.